Active pixel sensor with nanowire structured photodetectors

ABSTRACT

An imaging device formed as an active pixel array combining a CMOS fabrication process and a nanowire fabrication process. The pixels in the array may include a single or multiple photogates surrounding the nanowire. The photogates control the potential profile in the nanowire, allowing accumulation of photo-generated charges in the nanowire and transfer of the charges for signal readout. Each pixel may also include a readout circuit which may include a reset transistor, a charge transfer switch transistor, source follower amplifier, and pixel select transistor. A nanowire is generally structured as a vertical rod on the bulk semiconductor substrate to receive the light energy impinging onto the tip of the nanowire. The nanowire may be configured to function as either a photodetector or a waveguide configured to guild the light beam to the bulk substrate. In the embodiments herein, with the presence of the nanowire photogate and a substrate photogate, light of different wavelengths can be detected.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/621,497, filed Nov. 19, 2009, entitled “NANOWIRE CORE-SHELL LIGHT PIPES,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor imaging devices which can be fabricated using standard CMOS processes plus a nanowire fabrication process.

BACKGROUND

Imaging devices implemented in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) are well known and widely used together with CCD image sensors. CMOS imaging devices have a number of advantages: (1) they can reduce the cost and power consumption, (2) they are easy to manufacture, employing the highly standardized process developed for massive production of consumer integrated circuits (ICs) including memory chips and microprocessors and other digital and analog ICs, and (3) they integrate multiple functions on a single chip, allowing the scaling down of the size and power consumption of the device. They also allow for the adoption of smaller geometry processes provided by new advancements in the CMOS process.

Imaging devices are typically formed from rows and columns of pixels which include photo-detecting devices and supporting circuits. The photo-detecting devices typically include photodiodes, photoconductors, and photocapacitors, each of which may generate photo-charges in proportional to the photons impinging on the photodetectors. A CMOS pixel typically includes a photodiode, and three or four transistors that convert the photo-charges to voltage signal for the pixel output.

Typically, the one or more photodetectors in the pixel array receives only a fraction of light flux falling on the entire pixel area. This is because the pixel includes supporting circuitry that blocks the incoming light and typically does not function as a photodetector. The percentage of the photodetector area to the pixel area is often referred to as the optical fill factor. Typically, the fill factor of a small pixel is less than 30%. This means that less than 30% of the light energy received by the pixel is detected by the one or more photodetectors in the pixel.

A microlens system, which needs additional fabrication processing, is typically placed over every pixel in the pixel array to enhance the fill factor by focusing the light beam on the photodetector. This approach generally requires a gap of typically 0.7 μm between each microlenses due to fabrication requirements. For a small pixel on the order of 2 μm×2 μm, the microlens has a circular shape with an approximate diameter of 1.3 μm. In this case, a microlens is only able to cover about 33% of the pixel area. Consequently, enhancement of the fill factor by using a microlens is negligibly small for the small CMOS pixel case.

Furthermore, light needs to penetrate through multiple thick dielectric layers until it reaches down to the surface of the photodetector. (FIG. 1). At each interface between adjacent layers, some of the light is reflected due to the refractive index variations and the presence of an interface. Further, light energy is lost during transmission through the thick layers. This light transmission loss is proportional to the number of layers and the thickness of the layers. Further, multiple dielectric layers are formed due to CMOS fabrication requirements. Modern CMOS processes typically employ 5 to 6 metal layers for image sensor fabrication. This leads to depositions of 5 μm to 6 μm thick dielectric layers as each dielectric layer and metal layer is approximately 1.0 μm thick. Further, on top of the photodetector, where no metal layers are present, the dielectric layers are coated with a planarization layer for the planarization of the surface layer.

As a result, light energy loss due to transmission loss may become significant. In addition, when the pixel size is as small as 2.0 μm×2.0 μm or even smaller, the aspect ratio of the height to the size of the window opening of the metal layers above the photodetector is greater than 6. In this case, light beams can be blocked by the metal layers when light is incident at an angle other than perpendicular to the imaging plane. If a microlens is employed, the aspect ratio becomes even higher and results in a worse light shadow effect. This light shadowing becomes worsened as the pixel size becomes smaller. Consequently, the pixel signal is severely reduced, resulting in an unacceptable signal to noise ratio SNR.

Accordingly, there is a need to overcome these issues by introducing a new type of pixel architecture. Preferably, the new architecture should be CMOS compatible for ease of manufacture and electronics integration.

SUMMARY

In general, embodiments of the present invention combine active pixel circuits and nanowire photodetectors to form an active pixel sensor (APS) with a nanowire structured photodetector. An active element is any type of circuit component with the ability to electrically control electron and/or hole flow (electricity controlling electricity or light, or vice versa). Components incapable of controlling current by means of another electrical signal are called passive elements. Resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, and diodes are considered passive elements. Active elements include in embodiments disclosed herein, but are not limited to, an active waveguide, transistors, silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs), light emitting diodes, and photodiodes. A waveguide is a system or material designed to confine and direct electromagnetic radiation of selective wavelengths in a direction determined by its physical boundaries. Preferably, the selective wavelength is a function of the diameter of the waveguide. An active waveguide is a waveguide that has the ability to electrically control electron and/or hole flow (electricity controlling electricity or light, or vice versa). This ability of the active waveguide, for example, is one reason why the active waveguide could be considered to be “active” and within the genus of an active element.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an imaging device is formed as a monolithic CMOS integrated circuit employing an industry standard CMOS process. This embodiment includes a focal plane having an array of pixels, each one of the pixels including an active pixel readout circuit. The active pixel readout circuit may include an amplifying field effect transistor (FET), a reset FET, an output switching FET, and a transfer gate, which is a switching FET for transferring charge from the photodetector to the input node of the amplifying FET. This embodiment typically comprises four FETs in a pixel, formed as a 4-T configuration. In other embodiments, the pixel readout circuits comprise a 3-T configuration by removing the transfer gate. In addition to the readout circuits, each pixel typically includes a photodetector formed as a very narrow and long cylinder shaped semiconductor rod, that is, a nanowire.

According to another embodiment, an additional transfer gate is formed operably connected to the nanowire structured photodetector so that photo-charges generated in the nanowire can be separated from the photo-charges generated in the bulk photodiode.

According to series of another embodiments, nanowire structured photodetectors are formed as photodiodes in many variations including: a p-doped nanowire, an n-doped nanowire, an axial p-n diode, an axial p-i-n diode, a coaxial p-n diode, a coaxial p-i-n diode, a p-doped nanowire at the back side of the substrate, and a p-doped nanowire with p+-doped outer shell at the back side of the substrate.

An embodiment relates to a device comprising a substrate, a nanowire photodetector located on the substrate, the nanowire photodiode comprising a nanowire having a surface and a core, wherein the axial direction of the nanowire is perpendicular to the substrate, and an active pixel readout circuit in the substrate. In one aspect, the nanowire photodetector comprises a photo conductor, a photodiode, or a photogate. In another aspect, the device, further comprises at least one vertical photogate surrounding the nanowire photodiode. In another aspect, the vertical photogate is configured to electrically passivate the surface of the nanowire, suppressing dark current. In another aspect, photo carrier lifetime is increase relative to a non-passivated nanowire photodiode.

In another aspect, the device has greater quantum efficiency relative to a non-passivated nanowire photodiode. In another aspect, the nanowire comprises an n-type semiconductor. In another aspect, a negative bias applied to the nanowire causes depletion of charge carriers in the nanowire. In another aspect, the nanowire comprises a p-type semiconductor. In another aspect, a positive bias applied to the nanowire causes depletion of charge carriers in the nanowire. In another aspect, the active pixel readout circuit comprises three transistors in a 3-T configuration. In another aspect, the active pixel readout circuit comprises four transistors in a 4-T configuration.

In another aspect, the device further comprises a microlens coupler operatively attached to the nanowire. In another aspect, the microlens coupler is a spherical ball lens or a binary microlens. In another aspect, an increase of the negative bias above a threshold inverts the surface of the nanowire. In another aspect, increase of the negative bias above a threshold depletes the surface and the core of the nanowire of mobile charges. In another aspect, the device further comprises a dielectric cladding layer between the photogate and the nanowire. In another aspect, the thickness of the dielectric cladding layer varies along the nanowire in the axial direction. In another aspect, the device 3, further comprises a substrate photodiode. In another aspect, the nanowire is located on a first side of the substrate and the substrate photodiode is located on a second side of the substrate. In another aspect, the nanowire and the substrate photodiode are located on the same side of the substrate.

An embodiment relates to a device comprising an array of pixels, the pixels comprising a substrate, a nanowire photodetector located on the substrate, the nanowire photodiode comprising a nanowire having a surface and a core, wherein the axial direction of the nanowire is perpendicular to the substrate and an active pixel readout circuit in the substrate. In one aspect, the device comprises a monolithic CMOS circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a prior art small CMOS pixel.

FIG. 2 a illustrates a simplified cross sectional view of an embodiment of a pixel with a nanowire structured photodetector with front side illumination.

FIG. 2 b illustrates an aspect of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 a with a binary microlens on the NW structured photodetector.

FIG. 3 illustrates simplified cross section view of an embodiment of a pixel with a nanowire structured photodetector with backside illumination.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment having a CMOS pixel with a nanowire and a vertical photogate (VPG).

FIG. 5 a illustrates an embodiment having a CMOS pixel with a n-type nanowire and a VPG.

FIG. 5 b, illustrates a potential profile of the embodiment of FIG. 5 a along line A1-A2.

FIG. 5 c illustrates an embodiment having a CMOS pixel with a p-type nanowire and a VPG.

FIG. 5 d illustrates a potential profile of the embodiment of FIG. 5 c along line B1-B2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a potential profile of the embodiment of FIG. 4 along line C1-C2.

FIG. 7 a illustrates an embodiment having a negative photogate bias and a gradual variation in the thickness of the dielectric cladding layer.

FIG. 7 b illustrates an embodiment having a negative photogate bias and a stepwise variation in the thickness of the dielectric cladding layer.

FIG. 7 c illustrates an embodiment having a positive photogate bias and a gradual variation in the thickness of the dielectric cladding layer.

FIG. 7 d illustrates an embodiment having a positive photogate bias and a stepwise variation in the thickness of the dielectric cladding layer.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section view of an embodiment with a dual photodiode structure in which the p doped NW is coated with an n+ epitaxial layer to form a p-n junction.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a CMOS pixel with a nanowire structured photogate detector.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a CMOS active pixel with nanowire structured p-i-n photodiodes and vertical photogates around the NW.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a CMOS active pixel with nanowire structured p-i-n photodiodes and vertical photogates around the NW.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiments of a back-side illuminated image sensor.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiments of another back-side illuminated image sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless the context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detail description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

Symbols for elements illustrated in the figures are summarized in the following table. The elements are described in more detail below.

TABLE 1 Symbol Element VPG 1 (VP Gate 1) The first vertical photogate VPG 2 (VP Gate 1) The second vertical photogate TX Gate Transfer gate RG Reset gate RD Reset drain Sub substrate Out Output NW (nw) Nanowire PG photogate I (i) Current n+, n− Semiconducting material with excess donors, n+ is heavily doped, n− is lightly doped p+, p− Semiconducting material with excess acceptors, p+ is heavily doped, p− is lightly doped

The term nanowire refers to a structure that has a thickness or diameter of the order of several nanometers, for example, hundreds of nanometers or less and an unconstrained length. Nanowires could include metallic (e.g., Ni, Pt, Au), semiconducting (e.g., Si, InP, GaN, etc.), and insulating (e.g., SiO₂,TiO₂) materials. Nanowires could exhibit aspect ratios (length-to-width ratio) of 100 or more. As such they could be referred to as 1-dimensional materials. Nanowires could have many interesting properties that are not observed in bulk or 3-dimensional (3-D) materials. This is because electrons in nanowires could be quantum confined laterally and thus occupy energy levels that could be different from the traditional continuum of energy levels or bands found in bulk materials. As a result, nanowires could have discrete values of electrical and optical conductance.

The nanowire is upstanding (perpendicular to) and protruding from the substrate. The upstanding nanowire could be on the front side of the substrate or at the back side of the substrate. The substrate of the embodiments herein typically have electronic components and the nanowire photodiode. In the front-side nanowire structure, the upstanding nanowire is on the same side of the substrate where the electronic components are located, while in the back-side nanowire structure, the upstanding nanowire is located on the side of the substrate opposite to the side where the electronic components are located in or on the substrate.

The CMOS pixel and nanowire can be formed by using different materials, respectively. For example, silicon, could be used to fabricate a CMOS image device. The nanowire, however could be formed on the fabricated CMOS device by using group III-V or group II-VI materials, e.g., GaAS, GaN, GaP, InP, InN, InAs, CdTe, CdSe, ZnS, ZnSe, etc.

A transfer gate is a switch or a transistor used in a pixel. The transfer gate's role is to transfer the charges from one side of a device to another. In some embodiments, the transfer gate is used to transfer the charges from the photodiode to the sense node (or floating diffusion). A reset gate is a gate switch used for resetting a device. In some embodiments, the device is the sense node which is formed by an n+ region. Reset means to restore to original voltage level set by a certain voltage. In some embodiments, the voltage of the reset drain (RD) is the voltage used as a reset level.

A pinned photodiode is a photodiode that includes a state that does not have a voltage variation. A conventional pinned photodiode includes a doped pinning layer at the surface of the active layer of the photodiode which depletes the mobile charges in the photodiode. The pinning layer typically pins the potential of the surface of the active layer of the photodiode to the potential of the substrate, typically ground level or zero volts. In this manner, the pinning layer reduces dark current from the surface of the active layer of the photodiode.

In some embodiments, silicon NWs (SiNW) are be grown using the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth method. In this method, a metal droplet catalyzes the decomposition of a Si-containing source gas. Silicon atoms from the gas dissolves into the droplet forming a eutectic liquid. The eutectic liquid functions as a Si reservoir. As more silicon atoms enter into solution, the eutectic liquid becomes supersaturated in silicon, eventually causing the precipitation of Si atoms. Typically, the Si precipitates out of the bottom of the drop, resulting in bottom up growth of a Si—NW with the metal catalyst drop on top.

In some embodiments, gold is used as the metal catalyst for the growth of silicon NWs. Other metals, however, may be used, including, but not limited to, Al, GA, In, Pt, Pd, Cu, Ni, Ag, and combinations thereof. Solid gold may be deposited and patterned on silicon wafers using conventional CMOS technologies, such as sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), evaporation, etc. Patterning may be performed, for example, with optical lithography, electron-beam lithography, or any other suitable technique. The silicon wafer can then be heated, causing the gold to form droplets on the silicon wafer. Silicon and gold form a eutectic at 19% Au having a melting temperature at 363° C. That is, a liquid drop of Si—Au eutectic forms at 363° C., a moderate temperature suitable for the processing of silicon devices.

In some embodiments, the substrates have a (111) orientation. Other orientations, however, may also be used, including, but not limited to (100). A common silicon source gas for NW production is SiH₄. Other gases, however, may be used including, but not limited to, SiCl₄. In some embodiments, NW growth may be conducted, for example, with SiH₄ at pressures of 80-400 mTorr and temperatures in the range of 450-600° C. In some embodiments, the temperature is in a range of 470-540° C. Typically, lower partial pressures of SiH₄ result in the production of a higher percentage of vertical nanowires (NW). For example, at 80 mTorr partial pressure and 470° C., up to 60% of the SiNWs grow in the vertical <111> direction. In some embodiments, NWs may be grown which are essentially round. In other embodiments, the NW are hexagonal.

In one embodiment, NW growth is conducted in a hot wall low pressure CVD reactor. After cleaning the Si substrates with acetone and isopropanol the samples may be dipped in a buffered HF solution to remove any native oxide. Successive thin Ga and Au metal layers (nominally 1-4 nm thick) may deposited on the substrates by thermal evaporation. Typically, the Ga layer is deposited before the Au layer. In an embodiment, after evacuating the CVD-chamber down to approximately 10⁻⁷ ton, the substrates can be heated up in vacuum to 600° C. to form metal droplets. The Si—NWs can be grown, for example, at a total pressure of 3 mbar using a 100 sccm flow of SiH4 (2% in a He mixture) in a temperature range from 500° C. to 700° C.

The size and length of the Si—NWs grown with a Au—Ga catalyst are relatively homogeneous, with most of the wires oriented along the four <111> directions. For comparison, Si—NWs grown with a pure Au catalyst nucleate and grow with lengths and diameters of the NWs more randomly distributed. Further, NWs grown with a Au—Ga catalyst tend to have a taper along the axial direction. The tip diameters of NWs grown for a long time are the same as those grown for a short time and are determined by the catalyst diameter. The footprints of the NWs, however, tend to increase during the course of the growth. This indicates that NW tapering is caused primarily by sidewall deposition (radial growth) of silicon. NWs may be grown having a diameter at the foot (base) of 1500 nm, while the diameter of the tip may less than 70 nm over a length of 15 μm. Further, the NW diameter is a function of growth temperature. Higher growth temperatures result in NW with smaller diameters. For example, the average diameter of NWs grown with the Ga/Au catalyst at 600° C. is about 60 nm but the average diameter decreases down to about 30 nm for growth at 500° C. Additionally, the variation in diameters tends to narrow as deposition temperature is lowered.

Using the VLS process, vertical NWs may be grown. That is, nanowires which are essentially perpendicular to the substrate surface. Typically, not all NW will be perfectly vertical. That is, the NWs may be tilted at an angle to the surface other than 90 degrees. Commonly observed tilted NWs include, but are not limited to, the three 70.5°-inclined <111> epitaxial growth directions and three additional 70.5°-inclined directions, which are rotated by 60°.

In addition to growing vertical NWs, the VLS process may be used to grow doped NWs. Indeed, by changing the composition of the source gases, a doping profile in the growing wire can be produced. For example, the NW can be made p-type by adding diborane (B₂H₂) or trimethyl borane (TMB) to the source gas. Other gases that add acceptor atoms to the silicon NW may also be used. The NW can be made n-type by adding PH₃ or AsH₃ to the source gas. Other gases that add donor atoms to the silicon NW may also be used. Doping profiles which can be produced, include but are not limited to, n-p-n, p-n-p, and p-i-n.

Additionally, other methods or variations of the VLS method may be used to grow NWs. Other methods or variation include, but are not limited to, (1) CVD, (2) reactive atmosphere, (3) Evaporation, (4) molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), (5) laser ablation, and (6) solution methods. In the CVD process, a volatile gaseous silicon precursor is provided. Example silicon precursor gases include SiH₄ and SiCl₄. CVD may be used for epitaxial growth. Further, doping can be accomplished by adding volatile doping precursors to the silicon precursor. Annealing in a reactive atmosphere comprises heating the substrate in a gas that reacts with the substrate. For example, if silicon is annealed in an atmosphere including hydrogen, the hydrogen locally reacts with the silicon substrate, forming SiH₄. The SiH₄ can then react with the catalyst metal drop, thereby initiating NW growth. This growth process can be used for non-CMOS processes.

In the evaporation method, a SiO₂ source is heated under conditions that result in the production of SiO gas. When the SiO gas adsorbs on the metal catalyst droplets, it forms Si and SiO₂. This method may also be performed without a metal catalyst drop. Absent a metal catalyst, SiO₂ has been observed to catalyze silicon NW growth. In the MBE method, a high purity silicon source is heated until Si atoms evaporate. A gaseous beam of Si directed toward the substrate. The gaseous silicon atoms adsorb onto and dissolve into the metal droplet, thereby initiating growth of NWs.

In the laser ablation method, a laser beam is aimed at source which includes both silicon and catalyst atoms. The ablated atoms cool by colliding with inert gas molecules and condense to form droplets with the same composition as the original target. That is, droplets having both silicon and catalyst atoms. The laser ablation method may also be performed with a target consisting essentially of pure silicon. Solution based techniques typically use organic fluids. Specifically, the organic fluids generally comprise highly pressurized supercritical organic fluids enriched with a silicon source and catalyst particles. At a reaction temperature above the metal-silicon eutectic, the silicon precursor decomposes, forming an alloy with the metal. Upon supersaturation, silicon precipitates out, growing the NW.

The above nanowire growth techniques are all bottom up techniques. Nanowires, however may also be fabricated with top down techniques. Top down techniques typically involve patterning and etching a suitable substrate, for example silicon. Patterning can be accomplished via lithography, for, example, electron beam lithography, nanosphere lithography and nanoprint lithography. Etching may be performed either dry or wet. Dry etching techniques include, but are not limited to, reactive ion etching. Wet etching may be performed with either standard etches or via the metal-assisted etching process. In the metal-assisted etching process, Si is et-chemically etched, with the Si dissolution reaction being catalyzed by the presence of a noble metal that is added as a salt to the etching solution.

A nanowire absorbs a certain selective bandwidth of light energy depending on its dimensions and its design parameters such as a diameter, length and refractive index of its core and cladding layers. Unabsorbed light energy travels along the nanowire as in a waveguide. By using these characteristics, the nanowire could be used as a color selective filter device in an imaging device. Further, the nanowire structured photodetector could be constructed as a color sensitive photo sensor. By extending this feature, a color information gathering pixel array could be formed.

FIG. 2 shows a simplified cross section view of one pixel of a focal plane array of many such cells formed in an imaging device. Each pixel includes a readout circuit 100 formed on a semiconductor substrate 101 with metal lines 103 above the substrate. As a photosensitive element, a nanowire structured photodetector 102 is formed standing up from the substrate. Photo absorption takes place along the length of the nanowire structured photodetector 102. The output of the nanowire structured photodetector 102 can be connected to the readout circuit 100 located in the substrate. Since the footprint of the nanowire structured photodetector 102 is small, more than one nanowire structured photodetector 102 can be formed in a pixel. The role of the long vertical structure of the nanowire structured photodetector 102 is to absorb a certain bandwidth of light energy and generate a corresponding electrical signal and/or to guide the unabsorbed light energy to the substrate diode with minimum loss, thus performing as a waveguide. At the top end of the nanowire, an optical coupler (e.g., a lens) 105 could be formed to couple the incident light into the nanowire with minimum energy loss or reflections. In this embodiment, a micro lens may be used as a coupler. The microlens may be, but not limited to, a spherical ball lens. The coupling efficiency of a spherical ball lens is typically higher than 90%. In another aspect, a binary microlens may be used as shown in FIG. 2 b.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified cross section view of a pixel which has a nanowire structured photodetector at the back side of a thinned semiconductor substrate. The nanowire 109 generates photo charges by absorbing light energy in a certain bandwidth and dumping the charges into the thinned substrate. The charges are then collected by readout circuits 100 in the thinned substrate using an electrical field. Also, the nanowire guides and couples unabsorbed light into the substrate 108. An advantage of employing a nanowire structured photodetector at the back side of the substrate 108 is the ease of fabricating the nanowires. When forming nanowires at the front side, it is necessary to remove the thick dielectric layers 104 illustrated in FIG. 2 in a region where the nanowire is supposed to be constructed. In contrast, the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3 could be made without this removal step. Further, the nanowire may fabricated without modifying front side structure of the CMOS devices. This embodiment includes both front side metal and insulating layers 106 and backside metal and insulating layers 107. Further, as in the front side embodiment, a micro lens of an optical coupler 105 may be coupled to the nanowire 109.

A nanowire structured semiconductor could be configured in a variety of photodetector configurations. These configurations include: a photo conductor, a photodiode, or a photogate device. A photo conductor is a photo sensitive device whose resistivity varies as a function of incident light. A photodiode is a p-n diode or a p-i-n diode which generates electron-hole pairs as a photo charge. A photogate device is a MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) device with a biased gate that creates a potential well in the semiconductor and accumulates photo charge in the potential well. In the following embodiments, various configurations of photodiodes, photogate devices, or combinations of a photodiode and a photogate detector are implemented as photo detecting elements.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a CMOS pixel with a nanowire structured photogate device. In this embodiment, there are two photodetectors per pixel, a nanowire (NW) photogate detector and a substrate diode. The NW is formed of an n-type semiconductor with a dielectric cladding layer and a vertical gate. The role of the vertical gate surrounding the NW is to deplete the NW and create a potential well at the NW core as shown in FIG. 5 b by applying a slight negative bias voltage to the NW photogate. Further increase of the negative bias voltage would invert the surface region of the NW to p+ because holes are accumulated in the surface region due to the negative photogate bias. As a result, the NW acts similarly to a pinned photodiode, however, without impurity doping. For a p-type nanowire, a positive bias voltage may be applied to deplete the nanowire. In case of a intrinsic nanowire, a photogate bias is not needed for depletion. A negative bias, however, may be applied to produce a surface pinning effect.

A vertical photogate surrounding the nanowire structured photodetector may produce several benefits. It is known that the surface of a semiconductor, including silicon, has defects due to dangling bonds of the interface atoms. These defects form defect states within the energy bandgap in a semiconductor and result in leakage or dark current through the thermal generation process. Without the photogate bias, the NW could have a very large dark current generated from its surface region. This is because the surface to volume ratio of the NW is very large compared to a conventional substrate device. Thus, a photogate bias voltage may help suppress the dark current by electrically passivating the nanowire surface. The surface of the nanowire may also be passivated by chemically treating the surface to remove all dangling bonds. Such a method, can be implemented for a silicon nanowire, for example, by the use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) of a very thin layer of material such as LaAlO3, GdScO₃, LaScO₃, etc. Alternatively, the surface may be chemically treated with HfO₂ through the use of MOCVD or sputtering.

Another problem could be caused by the NW surface is that photo generated carriers could have a short lifetime due to the recombination process occurring at the defect states at NW surface. Passivating the NW surface by applying the bias voltage to the surrounding photogate is therefore beneficial because it helps reduce the dark current and enhances the photo carrier lifetime, resulting in better quantum efficiency.

The electrical potential of the NW core is not constant along the axial direction C1-C2 of the NW. This is because the top end of the NW is open and influenced most by the negative gate bias while the bottom end of the NW is connected to the N-well that has positive bias voltage during reset and holds the bias after reset. As a result, the closer to the top of the nanowire, the more negative the bias. The closer to the bottom of the NW, the more positive bias established in the NW. As a result, a potential gradient is established along the axial direction of the NW as shown in FIG. 6. This gradient causes photo charges generated in the NW to drift into the potential well in the substrate diode.

In another aspect, a p-type NW is used. In this aspect, a positive bias voltage can be applied to the photogate that surrounds the NW as shown in FIG. 5 c. In this case, the surface of the p-type NW becomes depleted with a slight positive photogate bias. Further increase of the photogate bias would deplete the entire region of the NW, i.e., from the surface to the core of the NW. A potential profile for this aspect of the NW is shown in FIG. 5 d.

In the substrate, a p-n junction diode may be formed between the p-type substrate and n-well region. A p+ layer covers the n-well surface except the NW junction. This p+ shape allows receiving the photo charges coming from the NW and suppress the dark current due to the surface states of the substrate. Since light passing through the NW can illuminate the substrate diode, photo charges are generated in the substrate diode and collected in the potential well. Consequently, the potential well collects the charges both from the NW and the substrate diode. Compared to conventional CMOS pixels which utilize only a fraction of incident photons, this embodiment can enhance the quantum efficiency by utilizing most of the incident photons.

The n-well of the substrate photo diode is lightly doped so that the n-region can be easily depleted with a low bias voltage. The depleted n-well is preferred for a complete charge transfer from the substrate diode to the sense node when the transfer gate is turned on. Complete charge transfer allows for a low noise readout of the photo charges similar to CCD devices.

The sense node is formed with n+ diffusion in the substrate. The sense node is connected to an amplifying transistor, e.g., a transistor configured as a source follower transistor. A select switch transistor may be used to control the connection of the amplifier output to an output node. A reset transistor may also be connected to the sense node so that sense node is biased to VDD when the reset gate is activated. When the transfer gate is activated, the n-well is electrically connected to the sense node. Then, the n-well becomes positively biased and a potential gradient in the NW is established between the n-well potential and the vertical photogate bias voltage. For a given negative photogate bias voltage, further potential gradient along the axial direction can be obtained by gradually or stepwise varying the thickness of dielectric cladding layer as shown in FIG. 7 a and FIG. 7 b, respectively. Since the potential drop across the dielectric layer is proportional to the thickness of the layer, the potential of the NW varies gradually along the axial direction. This potential gradient is beneficial for efficient collection of the photo generated carriers and to enhance the carrier lifetime. This is because the axial electric field helps remove thermally generated carriers from the NW region and therefore electron-hole recombination probability is reduced.

In another aspect a p-type NW is used. For a given positive photogate bias voltage, a potential gradient along the axial NW direction can be established by gradually or stepwise varying the thickness of the cladding layer as shown in FIG. 7 c and FIG. 7 d, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section view of a dual photodiode structure in which the p doped NW is coated with an n+ epitaxial layer to form a p-n junction. In an alternative embodiment (now shown), the NW could be doped and the coating could be en epitaxial p+ layer to form a p-n junction.

In FIG. 8, there are two photodiodes per pixel, one is a NW diode and the other is a substrate diode. The NW phtodiode is formed with a p−, n−, or intrinsic type semiconductor. A n+ layer covers the NW surface, forming a p-n diode or a p-i-n diode. In the substrate, a n− diode is lightly doped so that the n− region can be easily depleted with a low bias voltage. Photo charges are integrated in both of photodiodes at the same time, but in separate potential wells. This is because the photodiodes are separated by a p+ layer to avoid interaction between the two photodiodes. In this embodiment, there are two separated readout circuits. The readout circuit for the NW has a 3-T configuration, e.g., a rest transistor, n source follower amplifier, and a select switch (not shown in FIG. 8). The second readout circuit for the substrate diode is based on a 4-T configuration, e.g., a transfer gate, a reset transistor, a source follower transistor, and a select switch. It is also possible that the 4-T configuration be replaced with a 3-T configuration by removing the transfer gate. These two photodiodes can be used to collect charges created by radiations of different wavelengths.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a CMOS pixel with a nanowire structured photogate detector. This embodiment includes two vertical photogates (VP Gate 1, VP Gate 2) around the NW, a substrate photodiode, and a readout circuit. The readout circuit includes a transfer gate (TX), a reset gate (RG), a source follower transistor, and a pixel select switch. The buffer amplifier in FIG. 9 represents the source follower transistor and the pixel select switch for simplification. In this embodiment, an upstanding nanowire is formed with an n−, i.e. lightly doped n-type or an intrinsic semiconductor so that the NW can be easily depleted with a low negative bias voltage from VP Gate 1. Preferably, a negative bias voltage from the vertical photogate VP Gate 1 could cause accumulation of holes at the surface of the NW to suppress dark current due to the surface states of the NW as illustrated in the FIG. 5 b.

The second vertical photogate VP Gate 2 could be an on/off switch. This switch could be configured to separate the photo charges generated in the NW from the photo charges integrated in the substrate photodiode. Photo charges are integrated in both the NW and substrate photodiode at the same time. The photo charges, however, are integrated in separate potential wells because the off-state of the second photogate VP Gate 2 forms a potential barrier between the NW and substrate photodiode. In this manner, signal from the NW and the substrate photodiodes do not mix together. These two photodiodes can be used to collect charges created by radiations of different wavelengths.

The vertical photogates implemented in this embodiment allow the ability to easily modify the potential profile in the NW without using a complicated ion implantation process. The conventional photogate pixel suffers from very poor quantum efficiency and poor blue response. The conventional photogate is normally made of polysilicon which covers the top surface of the substrate photodiode and absorbs short wavelengths near the blue light, thereby reducing the blue light reaching the photodiode. The vertical photogate, in contrast, does not block the light path. This is because the vertical photogate (VPG) does not lie laterally across the photodiode to control the potential profile in the semiconductor.

Additionally, as the pixel size of the image sensors scales down, the aperture size of the image sensor becomes comparable to the wavelength of light propagated. For a conventional planar type photodiode, this results in poor quantum efficiency (QE). The combination of a VPG structure with a NW sensor, however, allows for an ultra small pixel with good QE.

The NW pixel of the present embodiment uses a two step process to read out the signals separately between the NW and substrate photodiodes. In the first step, the signal charges in the substrate photodiodes are read out. Then, the n− region in the substrate is depleted. In the second step, the second photogate VP Gate 2 may be first turned on. Next, the signal charges in the NW are read out.

A device of this embodiment may be operated in a “snapshot” operation. In a “snapshot” operation, preferably all of the photogates VP gate 2 in the pixel array are turned on or off at the same time. The same could be true for the transfer gate TX. To accomplish this, the second photogate VP Gates 2 are all connected with a global connection. Further, all the transfer gates TX are connected with a second global connection.

Generally, global operation of the reset gate RG should be avoided for practical reasons. In a pixel array, it is a common practice to globally reset the array row by row. If the snapshot operation is not used, individual pixel operation is possible. In this case, it is not necessary to have global connections.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show embodiments of CMOS active pixels with nanowire structured p-i-n photodiodes and vertical photogates around the NW. In one embodiment, a NW can be configured to have an axial type p-i-n photodiode by having p+ and n− at each end, respectively. In another embodiment, a NW can have a coaxial type p-i-n configuration as shown in FIG. 11. In addition to the p-i-n configurations, a NW can have one or more vertical photogates comprising epitaxially grown layers such as conductive layers and metal layers.

In one embodiment such as that shown in FIG. 10, the pixel could include two photodiodes, a NW photodiode and a substrate photodiode. This embodiment also includes two vertical photogates (VP Gate 1, VP Gate 2), a transfer gate (TX) and a reset gate (RG). Preferably, both of the photodiodes are lightly doped. This is because a lightly doped region can be easily depleted with a low bias voltage. As illustrated, both of the photodiodes are n−. Alternatively, however, the NW pixel could be configured so that both of photodiodes are p−.

The surface region of the substrate photodiode could be prone to defects due to process induced damage caused during fabrication and to lattice stress associated with the upstanding NW. These defects may serve as a source for dark current. To suppress the dark current at the surface of the n− photodiode, preferably, a shallow p+ region is fabricated on top of the n− photodiode in the substrate.

Preferably, the substrate is connected to ground, that is, zero voltage. In this embodiment, the reset drain is preferably doped n+ and is positively biased. When the transfer gate TX and reset gate are on, the n− region in the substrate becomes positively biased. This reset operation results in the n− region being depleted due to a reverse bias condition between the p substrate and n− region. When the transfer gate TX and reset gate RG are off, the n− region retains its positive bias, forming a floating capacitor with respect to the p-sub region.

The first vertical photogate VP Gate 1 could be configured to control the potential in the NW so that a potential gradient can be formed between the NW photodiode and the substrate photodiode. In this way, photo charges in the NW can drift quickly to the n− region of the substrate during readout. The second vertical photogate VP Gate 2 could be an on/off switch.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show embodiments of back-side illuminated image sensors. The NW could be formed at the back side of a p-substrate. The substrate may be thinned by removing semiconductor substrate material over the area containing the pixel array. For example, a p-substrate can be thinned to a thickness between 3 and 50 microns, more preferably, between 6 and 20 microns. The substrate photodiode could now get all of its light from the back-side and not from the side containing all the metal lines as in conventional image sensors.

The front side could include a 4-T readout circuit including a transfer gate TX, a reset switch with a reset gate RG, a source follower amplifier, and a select switch. The readout circuits also could be configured as a 3-T pixel circuit including, a reset switch with a reset gate RG, a source follower amplifier, and a select switch. In the front side, a substrate photodiode may be formed with a shallow p+ layer as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. The purpose of having p+ at both sides of the substrate is to suppress dark current. A buried p layer could be placed underneath the n+ diffusion layer to block incoming charge flow from the backside and deflect the charges toward the n− region. Preferably, doping of the buried p layer is higher than that of the p− substrate, but not as high as that of the p+ layer. The front side photodiode is not for photo absorption, but rather for collecting the charges coming from the NW and from the backside p− substrate where photon absorption takes place. The NW could have a dielectric layer (cladding layer) surrounding the NW and two vertical photogates, one for the switch and the other for controlling the potential in the NW.

Typically, in the embodiments of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, a two step process is used to read out the signal charges separately from each of the photodiodes. The first step would be to read out the charges from the substrate diode at the front side. Immediately after this, by turning on the VP Gate 1, the charges from the NW would be read out.

Preferably, the embodiments of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 should have a shallow p+ layer at the backside substrate with a hole in the center so that the p+ layer does not block the charges coming from the backside NW. Also, preferably, at the front side there should be a lightly doped n-well or n− layer underneath the shallow p+ layer so that n-well could be easily depleted.

FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of a backside illuminated CMOS pixel. In this embodiment, instead of having vertical photogate for the NW, the p+ layer could be coated at the outer shell of the NW to help create a built-in electric field in the NW. With this configuration, photo charges can easily drift in the upward direction. The features of the back-side illumination CMOS pixel are similar to those of the pixel of FIG. 12.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The drawings and description were chosen in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. 

1. A device comprising: a substrate; a nanowire photodetector located on the substrate, the nanowire photodetector comprising a nanowire having a surface and a core, wherein the axial direction of the nanowire is at an angle to the substrate; an active pixel readout circuit in the substrate; and at least one vertical photogate surrounding the nanowire.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the nanowire photodetector comprises a photo conductor, or a photodiode.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein a bias voltage on the vertical photogate is configured to electrically passivate the surface of the nanowire, suppressing dark current.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein photo carrier lifetime is increase relative to a non-passivated nanowire photodiode.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the device has greater quantum efficiency relative to a non-passivated nanowire photodiode.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the nanowire comprises an n-type semiconductor.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein a negative bias applied to the nanowire causes depletion of charge carriers in the nanowire.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the nanowire comprises a p-type semiconductor.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein a positive bias applied to the nanowire causes depletion of charge carriers in the nanowire.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the active pixel readout circuit comprises three transistors in a 3-T configuration.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the active pixel readout circuit comprises four transistors in a 4-T configuration.
 12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a microlens coupler operatively attached to the nanowire.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the microlens coupler is a spherical ball lens or a binary microlens.
 14. The device of claim 7, wherein an increase of the negative bias above a threshold inverts the surface of the nanowire.
 15. The device of claim 9, wherein increase of the negative bias above a threshold depletes the surface and the core of the nanowire of mobile charges.
 16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric cladding layer around the nanowire.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the thickness of the dielectric cladding layer varies along the nanowire in the axial direction.
 18. The device of claim 1, further comprises a substrate photodiode.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the nanowire is located on a first side of the substrate and the substrate photodiode is located on a second side of the substrate.
 20. The device of claim 18, wherein both the nanowire and the substrate photodiode are located on the same side of the substrate.
 21. The device of claim 1, wherein the axial direction of the nanowire is substantially perpendicular to the substrate.
 22. A device comprising: an array of pixels, the pixels comprising a substrate, a nanowire photodetector located on the substrate, the nanowire photodetector comprising a nanowire having a surface and a core, wherein the axial direction of the nanowire is at an angle to the substrate, an active pixel readout circuit in the substrate, and at least one vertical photogate surrounding the nanowire.
 23. The device of claim 22, wherein the device comprises a monolithic CMOS circuit.
 24. The device of claim 22, wherein the axial direction of the nanowire is substantially perpendicular to the substrate.
 25. The device of claim 22, wherein the presence of two photodetectors allows the collection of electromagnetic radiations of different wavelengths. 